Toronto's Commercial Heartland

Toronto (York) may have lost the Battle of York in April 1813, but when the War of 1812 ended, the military infrastructure that had been built for defence—the harbour and Yonge and Dundas streets—contributed to the growth of the small town of York into the City of Toronto, the country’s centre of industry and commerce.

The stories and sites collected under the theme “Industry and Commerce” illustrate the importance of the harbour and the Don River to post-war industrial development as well as the growth of centres of finance and commerce along the Yonge Street corridor, and the expansion along other transportation corridors, notably rail lines.

This trail highlights stories of manufacturing along the waterfront, and the financial and commercial heartland radiating from King and Yonge. It begins at the Redpath Sugar Refinery, which functions on the waterfront to this day, albeit with very different neighbours from those at its outset.

The Stories

Queen Opens Sugar Refinery , 1854
95 Queen's Quay E.
Preserving Our Industrial Past , 1832
Distillery District
Protesters Shout Down Planners and Save Market , 1971
St. Lawrence Market
Toronto’s Very Own “Flatiron Building” , 1891
49 Wellington St. E.
Calling Home from the Tallest Building in the British Commonwealth , January 13, 1931
25 King St. W.
New Masterpiece Replaces Old , 1967
66 Wellington St. W.
Toronto’s Skyscraper Row , 1911
Yonge St. and King St.
Icon of Canadian Business History , 1853
10 Toronto St.
Canada's First Indoor Shopping Mall , 1884
137 Yonge St.
Chicken Pot Pie in Fairyland , 1929
401 Bay St.
Eaton Centre Endures as a Retail Landmark , February 10, 1977
220 Yonge St.
“Poor House” Moves to New Quarters , 1848
87 Elm St.
Eaton Auditorium Tops Art Deco Inspired Department Store , 1930
444 Yonge St.
Printers Demand a Nine-Hour Day , 1872
Queen's Park Crescent E.

Click to enlarge

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- 43.642613 -79.370899
  Queen Opens Sugar Refinery
  
  Queen Opens Sugar Refinery 1854 95 Queen's Quay E.
- 43.650563 -79.359784
  Preserving Our Industrial Past
  
  Preserving Our Industrial Past 1832 Distillery District
- 43.649142 -79.371748
  Protesters Shout Down Planners and Save Market
  
  Protesters Shout Down Planners and Save Market 1971 St. Lawrence Market
- 43.648455 -79.374158
  Toronto’s Very Own “Flatiron Building”
  
  Toronto’s Very Own “Flatiron Building” 1891 49 Wellington St. E.
- 43.648032 -79.378839
  Calling Home from the Tallest Building in the British Commonwealth
  
  Calling Home from the Tallest Building in the British Commonwealth January 13, 1931 25 King St. W.
- 43.647706 -79.381352
  New Masterpiece Replaces Old
  
  New Masterpiece Replaces Old 1967 66 Wellington St. W.
- 43.649173 -79.377907
  Toronto’s Skyscraper Row
  
  Toronto’s Skyscraper Row 1911 Yonge St. and King St.
- 43.649977 -79.376412
  Icon of Canadian Business History
  
  Icon of Canadian Business History 1853 10 Toronto St.
- 43.651151 -79.378670
  Canada's First Indoor Shopping Mall
  
  Canada's First Indoor Shopping Mall 1884 137 Yonge St.
- 43.651867 -79.381660
  Chicken Pot Pie in Fairyland
  
  Chicken Pot Pie in Fairyland 1929 401 Bay St.
- 43.655216 -79.380577
  Eaton Centre Endures as a Retail Landmark
  
  Eaton Centre Endures as a Retail Landmark February 10, 1977 220 Yonge St.
- 43.656804 -79.386150
  “Poor House” Moves to New Quarters
  
  “Poor House” Moves to New Quarters 1848 87 Elm St.
- 43.661236 -79.383237
  Eaton Auditorium Tops Art Deco Inspired Department Store
  
  Eaton Auditorium Tops Art Deco Inspired Department Store 1930 444 Yonge St.
- 43.661950 -79.389800
  Printers Demand a Nine-Hour Day
  
  Printers Demand a Nine-Hour Day 1872 Queen's Park Crescent E.
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